Illegal Mining Allegations Mount Across Pulwama as Locals Question Official Inaction
Pulwama, Aug 19, KNT: Allegations of unchecked illegal mining have emerged from several parts of Pulwama district, with locals accusing operators of extracting minerals in violation of prescribed rules and raising questions over the enforcement mechanism of the Geology and Mining Department.
Locals said unauthorized mining activities were being carried out in Wuyan, Pampore, Mandakpal, Awantipora, Bohu, Darbagam Rajpora and several other locations across the district.
According to locals, some operators were allegedly carrying out extraction in violation of conditions attached to government permissions, while in other instances mining was allegedly being undertaken without proper authorization.
Locals said that the alleged activities were damaging natural resources and altering local landscapes, besides causing inconvenience to communities living around the affected areas.
They said complaints had repeatedly been brought to the notice of officials of the Geology and Mining Department, but alleged that effective enforcement had not followed despite the continued complaints.
The alleged persistence of mining activity despite complaints has prompted people to question whether the department has adequate field-level monitoring and whether violations are being acted upon in a timely manner.
Locals have demanded inspections of the identified locations, verification of permits and a determination of whether operators are complying with the conditions under which mining permissions were granted.
They also sought strict action against those found violating the prescribed regulations and called for regular field inspections to prevent continued extraction of natural resources.
They warned that unchecked mining could have longer-term consequences for the environment, water channels and surrounding landscapes, apart from undermining the regulatory framework governing mineral extraction.
They demanded greater transparency in the monitoring process and time-bound action on complaints, irrespective of the individuals or entities involved. [KNT]
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